Abstract

The millipede genus Cherokia Chamberlin, 1949 is a monospecific taxon, with the type species Cherokia georgiana (Bollman, 1889). The last revision of the genus was made by Hoffman (1960) where he established three subspecies. Here we used molecular phylogenetics to assess the genus and evaluate whether it is a monophyletic group, and if the subspecies are each monophyletic. We included material from literature records and three natural history collections. Newly collected samples were obtained through a citizen science project. Morphological characters underlying subspecies groups—the shape of the paranota, body size, and coloration—were evaluated. A molecular phylogeny of the genus was estimated based on DNA sequences for seven gene loci, and a species delimitation analysis was used to evaluate the status of the subspecies. The documented geographical range of Cherokia in the United States was expanded to include a newly reported state record (Virginia) and about 160 new localities compared to the previously known range. Morphological characters, which included the shape of the paranota and body size that had been historically used to establish subspecies, showed clinal variation with a direct relationship with geographical distribution and elevation, but not with phylogeny. Coloration was highly variable and did not accord with geography or phylogeny. The phylogeny recovered Cherokia as a monophyletic lineage, and the species delimitation test supported the existence of a single species. The subspecies Cherokia georgiana ducilla (Chamberlin, 1939) and Cherokia georgiana latassa Hoffman, 1960 have been synonymized with Cherokia georgiana. The molecular and morphological evidence showed that Cherokia is a monospecific genus with the sole species, Cherokia georgiana, being geographically widespread and highly variable in its morphology.

Addeddate

2025-03-20 16:41:28

Bhl_virtual_titleid

210914

Bhl_virtual_volume

v.1106 (2022)

Call number

10_3897_zookeys_1106_81386

Call-number

10_3897_zookeys_1106_81386

Foldoutcount

0

Genre

article

Identifier

phylogeneticrev1106vasq

Identifier-ark

ark:/13960/s28wfjbzths

Identifier-bib

10_3897_zookeys_1106_81386

Identifier-doi

10.3897/zookeys.1106.81386

Ocr

tesseract 5.3.0-6-g76ae

Ocr_detected_lang

en

Ocr_detected_lang_conf

1.0000

Ocr_detected_script

Latin

Ocr_detected_script_conf

1.0000

Ocr_module_version

0.0.21

Ocr_parameters

-l eng

Page_number_confidence

74

Page_number_module_version

1.0.5

Page_range

141-163

Pages

23

Pdf_degraded

invalid-jp2-headers

Pdf_module_version

0.0.25

Possible copyright status

In copyright. Digitized with the permission of the rights holder.

Ppi

300

Source

ZooKeys 1106

Year

2022

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